Part 3: Father-Daughter Reunion

Regina had arrived at the restaurant early, nervous and eager to get the meal over with. She didn't know how this would play out and that frightened her. It was times like this that helped her understand why her mother tried to control everything, even if she didn't approve of it.

She spotted Robin walking toward her table, his face blank. He had always worn his heart on his sleeve and she had liked that she didn't have to guess how he was feeling. When had that changed?

He sat down across from her. "Hello, Regina."

"Robin," she replied with a nod.

"So where do you want to begin? Talk about my camp and my plans to possibly bring it to Storybrooke? Or do you want to go straight to Sophie?" He leveled her with a hard gaze.

"I think it's best if we go straight to Sophie," she said, swallowing. "She told me you two met. Thank you for treating her."

"Of course. Roland adores her." He paused before saying: "She looks like you."

"She takes more after you personality-wise though."

Robin nodded. "I realized that yesterday."

Silence descended upon the table, Robin glaring at her while she tried not to throw up from how nervous she was. At last, he asked in a low voice: "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I thought I did," Regina replied. "I thought you rejected us."

After everything that summer, you thought I would do that?"

Regina sighed. "I didn't know what to think. I hadn't heard from you in two months and I was pregnant. I convinced myself we were just swept away by the romance but passions had cooled. I figured you had moved on."

"Really?" Robin leaned back, arms crossed. "Or did you move on?"

"Me? I was pregnant. Hard to move on when your stomach keeps getting larger and larger. Men don't tend to flock to that," she hissed.

Robin frowned. "I went to your mother's, when I hadn't heard from you. It was going to be a surprise for Christmas. She said you were on a date."

"Christmas?" Regina frowned then, shaking her head. "The only thing I did that year was go to the office Christmas party. Alone."

"I saw you a few days later with Graham." He nearly growled the name. "You were strolling arm-in-arm."

"Graham's a friend. He's only ever been a friend! And I was pregnant. My center of gravity was shifting with the addition of a growing life form and the pregnancy was effecting my balance. I was holding onto everyone at that time so I didn't hurt myself or Sophie. Not to mention it was probably icy since it was December." It was Regina's turn to glare at him. "So you drove away because of Graham?"

"I drove away because you never came to see me. I could take the hint," Robin replied.

She sighed. "I didn't know you were in town. Mother never told me."

"Of course not." He let out a humorless chuckle. "Do I want to know why?"

"You had no family connections and no ties to the community. You had no set address and no career to speak of."

Robin's frown deepened. "I didn't think it mattered to you."

"It didn't!" Regina realized she was shouting when the people by them stopped talking. She untucked her hair to hide her reddening cheeks. "Sorry, I didn't mean to shout."

"It's understandable. Emotions are high." Robin took a sip of his water and she noticed his hand shook.

She pressed on. "I didn't care about all of that. My mother did. You didn't meet the dream husband she had in her head for me. So you had to go."

"Which is why she didn't tell you I visited. She probably didn't tell you about the ten calls I made to your house either, I assume?" When Regina nodded, he blew out in exasperation. "And the letters?"

She reached into her black leather bag and placed a stack of letters wrapped in a rubber band on the table. None were open and they were all postmarked almost eleven years earlier from a town not far from Storybrooke. Each was addressed to Regina in Robin's block print.

"These are them," he confirmed, running his thumb over the edges. He looked up at her. "Your mum nicked them?"

"She did." Regina then tossed a second bundle down. "These too."

"I'm guessing those are the letters you thought you sent me?"

Regina nodded before groaning. "I was so stupid. I should've used another mailbox. No, I should've taken them to the post office myself."

"And I should've actually talked to you rather than taken your mother at her word or let myself misconstrue everything. Maybe things would've been different," Robin said with a sad smile.

Regina shrugged. "Maybe. But then you wouldn't have your family today."

"Roland?" Robin smiled as he nodded. "True."

"And his mother."

Robin's smile fell and his eyes darkened. "Roland's mother isn't in the picture."

"Oh." She glanced down at his hand and saw that Emma had been right—there was no wedding band on his left ring finger. Curiosity overwhelmed her but she fought it, knowing she had forfeited the right to ask him for more details. She could only stick with Sophie.

He seemed to agree. "So, Sophie. Does she know?"

"She does now," Regina said. "She only had suspicions when you got her the ice cream yesterday. Was that when you figured it out?"

He nodded. "As I said, she looks like you. And when her friend Henry mentioned an 'Aunt Regina,' I realized I wasn't just imagining things. Then I did the math and realized I was most likely the father. Will confirmed it."

"He wanted to tell you. But not over the phone."

Robin nodded. "He told me and I understood. I don't think I would've been happy if he had told me that way."

"I can arrange for you two to meet officially as father and daughter," Regina offered. "Are you free tomorrow?"

"Not in the morning. I'm meeting some potential investors then. But maybe afternoon is better. I can then take her and Roland to dinner…if that's okay?"

Regina nodded, smiling again. "She'd love it."

"Good." Robin leaned back and it seemed some of the tension had dissipated. "So do you want to pretend this is a professional lunch and talk about my organization? Or do you want to keep talking about Sophie? Because honestly, I could do both."

"While I could talk about Sophie all day, I'd love to hear about your camp. It's for inner-city and underprivileged youths, right?"

"Yes, though it's really a series of camps I've set up over New England. I really put my camp experience to use, huh?" Robin smiled. "Imagine going back eleven years and telling my younger self that?"

Regina laughed. "I think I would've believed it."

"Yeah, you were my greatest supporter." His smile faltered and his eyes were downcast. "Though I guess if I could go back, I'd tell me a few other things."

"Me too," Regina agreed softly.

Awkward silence descended upon them. Regina casted about to find anything for them to discuss, ready to tell him Sophie's entire life story if need be, when she spotted Emma striding toward her. She frowned as her friend approached. "Emma, what's wrong?"

"There's been an incident at the library. Sophie's been hurt," Emma said.

"What?" Robin and Regina both jumped from their seats.

Regina's heart pounded in her chest as different scenarios passed through her head. "What happened? How bad is she hurt?"

Emma held up her hands, trying to calm Regina down. "Nothing too serious, but you need to come now. I'll drive you."

"I have to settle the bill," Regina said, pulling at her purse to find her wallet. Her hands shook and she dropped the bag a few times.

Robin placed his hand over hers. "I'll settle up here and meet you at the library. Sophie needs you."

"Thank you," she whispered, blinking back her tears. She took Emma's arm as the sheriff escorted her from the restaurant to take her to her child.

Sophie knew Trevor and his gang were up to no good. Every instinct she had told her that. When she had seen them lurking about, she should've gone to Ms. Belle. But she didn't think they would be so stupid.

She should've known better.

By the time Trevor had been on top of her, it had been too late. He had grabbed her and started to push her between his friends. "How's this? Ain't picking on a little kid now," Trevor taunted.

"Come on. Just leave me alone," she said before Austin gave her a shove.

Tommy caught her. "You hear that boys? The princess wants us to stop."

"Leave her alone!" a little voice demanded. They stopped long enough to glance at Roland. He stood beside them, a determined look on his face and his little hands balled into fists.

The boys laughed. "Look at that, princess. You have your own little knight. Too bad he's barely out of diapers," Trevor teased.

"Roland, run!" Sophie called out.

Austin snickered as Trevor mimicked her. "Yes, Roland. Run and hide like a baby."

Roland charged at the boys, despite being half their size. Tommy moved Sophie aside to try and block the boy but she kicked the inside of his leg. He left Roland alone as he turned on her. "You shouldn't have done that, Princess," Tommy roared. He shoved her hard into Trevor's arms.

Laughing, Trevor caught her and shook her. She flew from his grip and hit the bookcase hard. Pain shot through her left side as she crumpled to the floor, crying out.

"Sophie!" Roland knelt next to her. "Are you hurt?"

She nodded, letting out a whimper as Ms. Belle turned the corner. Her eyes widened as she took in Sophie before she turned to the four stunned boys, angry. "What happened here?"

Roland pointed at them. "They hurt Sophie. They pushed her around."

"It was an accident," Trevor replied, dazed. "I swear."

Ms. Belle took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. She pointed to an empty table. "You four sit there and don't move while I call the authorities."

For the first time, Sophie saw Trevor and his friends be genuinely afraid. Their faces went white and they shuffled off to sit at the table.

"Sophie, I'll be right back, okay?" Ms. Belle crouched down, looking concerned.

She nodded as tears clouded her vision. Roland pressed himself closer to her as he patted her hair. It was probably mimicking something his father did when he was upset. Sophie was both touched and envious that Roland had those moments with Robin. With their father.

Pain though overtook all her other feelings and she started crying as Roland continued to pat her. "It's okay, Sophie," he said.

"It hurts," she sobbed. "I want my mommy."

"I'm sure she's coming. Do you want Mr. Bananas until she does? He always makes me feel better."

Sophie shook her head as she sniffed. "I don't think Mr. Bananas will help me. Only my mom."

Roland nodded before picking up a book. He opened it and smiled at her. "Then I'll read to you until your mommy comes. How's that?"

"I guess it'll work," Sophie said as Ms. Belle returned with an ice pack. She placed it on Sophie's sore wrist and told the girl to hold it there. It started to numb the pain but she still felt horrible. She glanced up at Ms. Belle. "Is my mom coming?"

"Soon," Ms. Belle replied. "Your Aunt Emma is going to get her and the ambulance is on its way."

Roland continued reading, moving on to another book before she heard the familiar click-clack of her mother's heels. The mayor rounded a corner, brown eyes wide with fear and panic. She raced toward her daughter, kneeling down in her form-fitting black dress to cup her daughter's cheek. "Sophie, where does it hurt?"

"My wrist. Make it go away, Mommy." She leaned against her mother's chest as she resumed sobbing.

Her mother ran her fingers though her hair as she looked up to the sheriff. "Emma, can I take her to the hospital now?"

"The ambulance is here," Emma said. "Let the EMTs look her over."

"What took them so long? They should've been here before us," Regina snapped as the two men in blue uniforms rounded the corner, carrying their medical supplies.

One EMT knelt in front of Sophie, nonplussed. "Apologies, Madam Mayor. We were at another incident and got here as soon as we could."

Ms. Belle had moved Roland away from Sophie's side so the EMTs could examine her wrist and he pulled away from the librarian, running toward his father with arms outstretched. "Papa!"

"My boy," Robin said as he settled Roland on his hip. He knelt next to Sophie, looking as panicked and worried as her mother. Robin kissed her forehead. "My girl."

Her heart soared at the endearment until piercing pain shot through her arm again, causing her to cry out in pain. Robin wrapped his arm around her shoulders as Regina rounded on the EMT. "You're hurting her, you fool!" she snapped.

"I have to figure out the extent of her injuries," he explained, remaining calm in the face of her mother's wrath. "We'll transport her to the hospital for a full examination, but I think it's just sprained not broken."

"You hear that, Soph? It's not too bad," Robin said, rubbing her back.

She sniffed. "It still hurts, though."

"I know, sweetheart." He kissed her head again. "But the doctors will make you feel better."

"And then you'll get a lollipop!" Roland added, getting a small smile from her.

The EMTs loaded her onto a gurney as Robin picked up Roland, setting him on his hip. She watched as he approached her mother. "I'll drop this one with Will and meet you at the hospital, okay?"

Regina nodded. "I'll let the hospital staff know you're coming."

"Thank you." He came back over to Sophie. "I'll be there as soon as possible. I love you."

She almost cried from joy rather than pain. "I love you too."

Roland looked between Sophie and his father, confused. But he leaned toward her, forcing Robin to move him closer to the girl. Roland kissed her cheek. "Feel better, Sophie."

"I'm starting to," she told him. "Thank you."

Robin stepped aside as they loaded her into the ambulance, helping her mother in after her. Regina took Sophie's uninjured hand but the girl kept her eyes on her father until the ambulance door was shut. As they sped off toward the hospital, she turned to look at her mother again. "He said he loved me," she said.

"Yes he did. And he does," Regina said. She rubbed her daughter's hand. "I know that wasn't the reunion you expected."

"No, but it was good. Will he be around more now?"

"I think he will. He does want a relationship with you, Sophie. And I'm not going to stop him."

"Thank you, Mommy." Sophie's wrist began to thaw without the icepack and the throbbing began again. She let out a few whimpers and Regina hugged her, trying to soothe her.

"We're almost there," the EMT said. "And they'll fix you right up."

Her mother thanked him as she stroked her hair. It was a familiar comforting motioning Sophie had experienced her entire life. Sophie snuggled closer to her mother, listening to the steady beating of her heart.

Yes, she had her father now. But she had had her mother her whole life. Nothing was going to change that or the fact she was always going to need her. "I love you, Mommy."

"I love you too," Regina responded. "Always and forever."

Emma had given him directions to the hospital before he left the library. So after leaving a confused Roland with Will, Robin jumped back into his car and sped off there. He would have to figure out how to explain to a five-years-old that he now had an older sister but he'd worry about that later. Right now, his daughter needed him.

His daughter. That was going to take some getting used to but he would adjust quickly, he knew. He was going to be part of Sophie's life from this day forward and not abandon her again, despite it being unintentional.

As he stopped at a red light, he closed his eyes for a moment. There was a part of him that hated Regina's mother. He knew she was dead, which was a good thing. Roland and Sophie didn't need him going to prison for murder, no matter how justified it was. Cora Mills cost him ten years with his daughter because she tried to control her daughter's life.

Robin pulled into the parking lot and found a spot. He resisted the urge to run to Sophie's side, not wanting to end up lying injured next to her. And Regina was with her, so she was in good hands.

The doors slid open and he didn't stop until he reached the front desk. "I'm looking for Sophie Mills," he said.

"Name?" the nurse asked.

"Robin Locksley."

She nodded, standing. "Follow me and I'll take you to her cubicle."

They walked past a few empty areas until they reached one in the back. Regina sat next to Sophie, stroking her hair as the girl slept on. She glanced up as Robin approached, giving him a sad smile. "Thank you for coming."

"Of course," he said, sitting on Sophie's other side. "Now that I know, I intend to be a father to her."

Regina nodded. "I'm not going to stop you. I want you to be close."

"So you'd be okay if I moved to Storybrooke?"

"Of course. But you'd upend your life because you discovered you have a daughter? What about Roland?"

"I would do anything for my children," he replied. "But in all honesty, this would be me and Roland finally settling down."

"Really?" Regina asked.

He nodded. "It's been easy to go from camp location to camp location but now he needs roots and to go to school. Storybrooke seemed like the perfect place even before…"

Trailing off, Robin glanced down at his sleeping daughter. He placed a hand on her head, smiling. "You've done a great job with her."

"Thank you," she replied. "And once again, I'm sorry."

He sighed. "I'm sorry too."

"For what? I'm the one who assumed you were a deadbeat dad, who assumed the worst despite only ever knowing you to be kind and honorable."

"For a long time, I didn't have very kind and honorable thoughts about you," he confessed. "And I was willing to believe you moved on despite everything that told me you'd be faithful."

Regina gave him a sad smile. "Well, we're certainly a pair."

"Yes, we are," he agreed. "And Sophie got caught in the middle."

They fell into silence and Robin watched his daughter sleep. Her dark eyelashes, tanned skin and dark hair all had been inherited from Regina. She hardly showed any resemblance to him like this, just like Roland when he was asleep. But like her brother, she had Robin's smile and dimples. Not like he was going to see them soon since she was in so much pain.

"Where is Whale? How long can X-Rays take?" Regina glanced at the hallway.

Robin frowned. "How long ago did they take them?"

"Umm…" She checked her watch. "About a half hour ago."

"Then they should be ready. I'm sure the doctor's on the way."

Regina nodded but continued to tap her foot. He fought the urge to smile, recalling how he used to tease her for being too impatient. It was comforting to know somethings never changed.

Sophie started to whimper and her face scrunched up in pain. Robin turned his attention back to her. Leaning close, he ran a hand through her hair. "Hey there, sweet girl. It's going to be all right."

"Daddy?" She opened her eyes though they were still unfocused from sleep, medicine and pain.

He smiled. "I'm right here. Sorry it took so long."

"S'okay," she murmured. "It wasn't your fault."

Robin kissed her forehead as footsteps grew louder, signaling someone was approaching. He sat up as Regina stood. "Victor Whale, that better be you," she called out.

"It is," said the doctor, judging by his lab coat. He gave a Regina a stern look. "I hope you wouldn't have taken it out on some poor nurse if it hadn't."

"I wouldn't let her," Robin said. "Your nursing staff would've been safe."

As Regina scowled at him, Dr. Whale frowned. "I'm sorry. Who are you?"

"Robin Locksley." He stood, holding out his hand.

Dr. Whale still looked suspicious until Regina whispered, "He's Sophie's father."

"Oh," the doctor said. "I wasn't aware he was back in the picture."

Robin frowned, not pleased with being talked about as if he wasn't in the room. It always was a pet peeve of his. "I'm right here and I'm now a part of her life."

"This has been a very recent development. Not that it's something that needs to be splashed across the front page of The Mirror." Regina frowned. "Now, can we focus on our daughter?"

Whale nodded, moving past Regina to take Sophie's injured wrist. Robin held her other hand. "Squeeze if you need to," he told her.

She nodded and squeezed his hand right after as Whale probed her wrist. The doctor gave her a sympathetic look. "Did that hurt?"

"Yes," she whimpered, squeezing Robin's hand.

Regina walked over to stand next to him, rubbing Sophie's leg as she leaned closer to their daughter. He ignored how close that brought her to him and the vanilla scent wafting up from her, still familiar after ten years apart.

Another squeeze brought his attention back to the other Mills girl in his life. He kissed Sophie's hand. "You're being really brave, my sweet girl."

"I don't feel brave," she said. "I feel pain and I'm tired. Can I go home?"

Dr. Whale put her arm back down. "I'm going to do my best, Sophie. You rest while I talk to your parents."

Robin and Regina followed the doctor a few steps away. She hugged herself as she glanced back at Sophie. "What's the diagnosis?"

"The X-Rays don't show a break. I want to do an MRI to confirm, but I think it's a sprain," Whale said.

Regina nodded. "Does she need to stay overnight?"

"I'm going to recommend she not. Depends if I can get her into the MRI soon. But I do feel it's best if Sophie goes home at least in a soft cast until the results come back," Whale replied.

"Thank you," Robin said. "Can we go back to our daughter?"

Dr. Whale nodded. "I'm going to check with radiology now. I'll let you know if we can get Sophie in today."

Robin nodded, placing his hand on the small of Regina's back out of habit. He guided her into the cubicle and back to Sophie's side.

Regina watched Robin as he talked to their daughter in a reassuring voice and petted her hair. Sophie basked in the attention, moving closer to her father as she laid on the cot. It was heart-warming and everything Regina had imagined when she had allowed herself to hope Robin would still come back to them.

Of course, she never imagined it involving the hospital or Sophie in so much pain.

Sophie's head rolled over to face her. "Mommy?"

"Yes, baby?" Regina's heart constricted as she took her daughter's hand.

"It hurts again. Really, really bad." Tears ran down her cheeks.

Regina wiped her daughter's face. "The medicine's probably wearing off."

"I'll go get a nurse. See if we can get Sophie another dose," Robin replied, standing.

Regina followed him with her eyes as he left until Sophie tugged her hand. "Daddy's great," she said.

"Yes, he is," Regina replied with a smile.

"Mommy, what's going to happen to Trevor and his friends?" Sophie asked, frowning.

Regina's smile dropped into a frown as well. She hadn't even thought about the boys who put her daughter here. Shrugging, she tucked some hair behind Sophie's ear. "I don't know. Aunt Emma will handle that for now as will the courts. But I will make sure they are punished. They will learn that their actions have consequence."

"Who are we talking about?" Robin asked as he returned with a nurse.

As the woman gave Sophie another dosage, Robin and Regina moved away a bit. "We were talking about the boys who…" Regina trailed off.

He nodded, rubbing his chin. "I want to put them into these other cubicles," he admitted.

"That won't help Sophie."

"I know but it would feel so good."

Regina nodded. "I wouldn't mind taking a swing at those punks but at least I can make sure they will regret this for a long, long time."

"If they get community service, I know the prefect place," Robin said.

The nurse approached them. "This dosage should last her six hours. Dr. Whale will be with you shortly."

Regina returned to her daughter's bedside, Robin on her heels. She took a blanket and covered Sophie. "Feeling better?"

"No," Sophie said, sniffling. "It still hurts."

"You have to give it some time to kick in," Robin told her.

Whale entered the room. "Good news. We can get Sophie into the MRI now. No braces, right?"

Regina nodded. "I just need to take off her locket."

She leaned over and unclasped the gold heart her daughter always wore. Regina placed it in a little box she always kept in her purse before nodding to Whale. "She's ready."

"Okay," Whale said. "The tech and I will take her up and the nurse will escort the two of you to the waiting area."

Sophie grabbed both their hands. "Mommy? Daddy?"

"It'll be okay, baby girl. We'll see you in a bit." Robin kissed her forehead.

Regina did the same as she smoothed her daughter's hair down. "It's almost over, darling."

Sophie was wheeled out as Regina took several deep calming breaths. Robin's hand settled on her back again. "She'll be fine," he told her.

"She's so scared." Regina's voice cracked as she tried not to cry herself. "I wish I could take her pain away."

"I know. I do too." Robin rubbed her back as the nurse took them upstairs.

They sat on identical plastic chairs, side by side. Robin leaned closer. "You want coffee?"

"No. I don't think I can keep anything down until she's back home."

"Do you think you'll be okay if I go to get a cup?" he asked.

She nodded. "I'll be fine. Probably should update the others. And you should check in with Roland."

"Yeah." He checked his watch with a frown. "Will should've fed him by now."

Robin walked away and she closed her eyes. All she wanted was to get her daughter home, fed and safely tucked into her bed before she let the day melt away in a long bath. Between reuniting with Robin and spending the afternoon in the hospital, she had a lot of stress to wash away before bed.

She sighed, thinking of Robin. He had handled everything better than she expected. Regina had braced herself for a lot more anger and a lot of blame. When he shared some of it, though, she realized he was still the same man in many ways.

It was comforting to see he hadn't changed so drastically. He was still open-minded and forgiving. And still a very tactile person, not just with Sophie but with her as well. She remembered how he'd always be touching her, from a simple hand hold to caresses to a lot more when they were alone in this room. And the hot tub…

She shook her head, knowing that now was not the time to get lost in those memories. Especially if she wanted to rebuild a friendship with Robin. He was closed off to her in a way she had never experienced. The fact he had said so little of Roland or the boy's mother spoke volumes of how much they needed to repair to at least be friends again. That would be enough for her, she believed. It had to be.

"Here, I brought you coffee anyway." Robin handed her a Styrofoam cup. "Hope you still like it the same way."

She took a sip and nodded. "Close enough. I've switched to skim milk but a dash of regular milk won't hurt."

"Some things never change."

Regina smiled. "I was just thinking the same thing."

He let out a soft chuckle but it turned into a groan as he sat down, rubbing his knees. "Unfortunately, some things have changed."

"When did we get so old?" Regina asked.

"We're thirty-three," he shot back before sighing. "And parents."

She nodded. "How's Roland?"

"He's good. Very confused but enjoying time with his Uncle Will. Especially as he's given him pizza and probably an unholy amount of sugar."

Regina tilted her head, hoping she wasn't pushing her luck as she pressed on. "You don't give him pizza often?"

"Someone I cared about once taught me the importance of vegetables," he said with a smile. "I've passed it onto my son."

"So you finally learned to cook?"

He laughed. "Well, I couldn't live on takeaway forever. Especially once Roland came along."

"I'm so proud of you," she said with a smile.

"And I'm proud of you. You really have done a great job with Sophie."

Regina blushed. "Thank you. But I had a lot of help. Mal, Emma, Graham and my mother all have played a role in Sophie's upbringing."

"Your mother?" His jaw tightened.

She sighed. And it had been going so well. "Yes, my mother. I'm not going to make excuses for what she did to us. It was awful…"

"Unforgiveable," Robin muttered.

"I guess that too. But she changed. She was a great grandmother to Sophie."

"But she never decided to tell you that she kept us apart," Robin said. "She never gave me a chance."

Regina leaned back, blowing out. "I'm upset too. But Sophie loves her grandmother."

He closed his eyes, nodding. "She won't hear a cross word from me. But I'm not going to listen to praise of the woman either."

"Mayor Mills?" A nurse emerged, ending their conversation. "Sophie is done and is asking for you."

Regina handed Robin her cooling coffee as she hurried into the room. Whale was wrapping her daughter's wrist in a soft cast. "Leave this on and try not to jostle it, okay?" he told her.

Sophie nodded. "Can I go home?"

"Yes, you can. Mom just has to fill out some forms." Whale turned to Regina. "And you'll need to bring her back tomorrow."

Regina nodded, pulling Sophie close to her. "Thank you, Victor."

Sophie glanced up at her. "Can Daddy come tomorrow?"

"You can ask him," Regina said, feeling the answer was going to be yes. "Come on, let's go."

Robin stood as Regina led Sophie from the room. Her wrist was wrapped up but she remained focused on him, surprised. "You stayed?"

"Of course I did," he replied, confused. "Why wouldn't I?"

"What about Roland?"

"He's fine. It's you I'm focused on." Robin wrapped his arms around her trying not to jostle her wrist.

Sophie leaned into him and wrapped her good arm around him. He held her close at last, trying to make up for ten years of hugs.

"I have to complete her discharge paperwork. You two wait here," Regina said, smiling at father and daughter before heading down the hall.

Robin led Sophie back to the chairs and let her sit on his lap. He rubbed her back as he explained, "I'm staying around to be a proper dad to you. If you'd like it."

I'd love it," she replied. "And will I get to be Roland's big sister?"

"You are. And once I tell him, I'm sure he'll be thrilled to be your little brother."

She nodded before resting her head against his shoulder. He continued to rub her back as he rocked her gently. Closing his eyes, he tried to imagine rocking her as a baby. Carrying her around like he did Roland, falling asleep on the couch with her curled up on his chest…Robin fought the anger at Cora Mills rising back up in him. He could rage at the woman who stole all of that from him later.

Instead, he focused on Sophie and kissed the top of her head again. He had been amazed at how overwhelming and instantaneous his love for Roland had been the moment the labor and delivery nurse had put him in his arms. The same feeling washed over him now with Sophie. And like he did when he first held Roland, he promised himself he would do everything he could to keep her happy and safe.

Regina returned with a wheelchair and gave him a soft smile as she took in the scene. "She's cleared to go, as long as she leaves in this."

"Okay." Robin gave Sophie a little shake. "Time to go, sweetheart."

She nodded as she lifted her head from his shoulder, letting him help her into the wheelchair. He pulled out his keys as he met Regina's eyes. "I'll go pull my car around so I can drive you two home."

"Thank you," Regina said, giving him a small smile.

He squeezed Sophie's shoulder before heading back to the parking lot. Regina and their daughter preoccupied his thoughts as he retraced his steps. They were both beautiful, Regina even more so than when he last saw her. Motherhood had agreed with her and she just seemed to glow.

Robin had thought about her often since driving away from Storybrooke almost eleven years ago—more often than he wanted to admit. His lingering feelings for Regina had been a sticking point in his relationship with Marian. There were days, like this, when he felt guilty for not loving her the way she deserved. For not loving her the way he had loved Regina.

How he still loved her.

There was no denying it. Not after spending the past few hours with her. He had expected his meeting with her to end his lingering feeling, expected a fight over Sophie and to hear a litany of excuses over why she had kept his daughter from him. Instead, he had found a woman who had regrets and who had been just as deceived as him. He had to face his own role in destroying their relationship and keeping him from having a role in Sophie's life. They still had a lot to discuss about how to proceed as parents going forward, but he knew they would be able to work it out.

His own relationship with Regina needed work too. Robin knew they weren't going to pick up where they left off and doubted she still carried the same torch he did. Even though a boyfriend hadn't come to check on her and Sophie, he knew she had to have found someone else. Someone who deserved her. All he could do now was hope that they could all be friends for Sophie's sake.

Robin pulled his car up to the emergency room exit, where Regina and Sophie were waiting. He got out to help them, moving Roland's booster seat to his trunk to give them more space. Regina helped Sophie get in before climbing in next to her. Sophie curled up on her mother's lap as best as the seat belt allowed her.

Turning out of the parking lot, Robin followed the directions Regina gave him. He glanced at her and Sophie using the rearview mirror every so often. Sophie had her eyes closed and was no doubt asleep, head resting on her mother's lap. Regina carded her fingers through Sophie's hair, humming softly to her.

He recalled driving Marian and baby Roland home from the hospital and at a red light, imagined what it would've been like to drive Regina and baby Sophie home. Robin saw Regina as she had been that summer—sun-kissed skin, long wavy hair, and wearing a brightly colored sundress that made her stand out—seated next to a baby swaddled in all pink. In his mind's eye, he saw her holding the baby in the car seat as she smiled and hummed to her.

"Robin?" Regina's voice broke his reverie and she pointed out the window. "Light's green."

Sheepish, he drove off as he ignored the pain in his heart over the memories he'd never make with Sophie. But he knew he had to focus on the new memories he could make with her.

A/N: Here is the next chapter! Once again, thanks to all who have supported this from when I first published it as what was supposed to be a one-shot until it took on a life of its own.

So, stay tuned as the Locksleys and the Mills figure out their new family arrangement. And will Robin and Regina admit to their feelings? Find out!

-Mac