A/N: 85. Sunsprite sent a lovely prompt that asked for the baby's magic to recognize Regina, which inspired much of this chapter.
Mfficworlds and Evilshipper wanted to see the baby coming home and life post baby.
Hope you all enjoy the chapter! I love all the prompts, so please feel free to leave more.
This isn't how they were supposed to meet their baby: screaming and alone in the forest still covered in blood, her umbilical cord tied off with a strip of cloth. Regina had been certain that when Zelena escaped three weeks before her due date (it's been two awful sleepless weeks since then, weeks where Regina and Robin had searched every moment) that she wanted to keep the baby. Regina had found herself feeling so guilty, even if rationally she knew that Zelena should never be allowed to raise this child. Regina had been certain that Zelena would never do what Cora had done.
But the baby is lying on the ground alone, and Regina understands instantly that she is the reason. Zelena had seen how much Regina loved and wanted this child, and Zelena had punished the baby for being loved by Regina, just as she had punished Robin and Roland.
Regina runs to the squalling baby, pulling the tiny child tight to her breast. "It's ok, my love. Mommy's here." The tiny body feels so cold as Regina holds her close. Regina focuses on warming the baby, her hands glowing as she uses her magic to give the tiny child some of her own heat, light magic flowing so easily from Regina's hands. And then the little girl is glowing too, white light surrounding her little body and all Regina can feel is love, so much love and trust coming from her daughter.
"What's happening?" Robin asks, eyes wide and afraid.
Regina can't explain it. This little life somehow knows Regina, responds to her magic and her touch with all this incredible love. She knows Regina instantly, returns the love she feels coming from the warm arms holding her. "She's so beautiful," Regina gasps, tears clouding her vision.
Robin moves close then, his hand reaching out to touch his daughter for the first time. His hand is on her still glowing back, her cries already calming, soothed by the warmth of her parents' touch and her mother's magic.
"I'm going to transport us to the hospital, ok?"
Robin nods, crying now too, amazed by his daughter. He wraps his arms around both of them as purple smoke engulfs them.
There's a flurry of activity, Whale taking the baby from Regina. The girl is crying again immediately. Regina reaches out for her, lets the baby grasp her finger tight in her little hand. Her palm is glowing white, and Regina feels the baby's fear fading as Regina coos, "It's ok my darling. You're ok. Mommy and Daddy are right here."
Robin rushes forward, his hand running over his daughter's forehead. "It's ok peanut. You're safe."
Regina feels her baby calming, feels her love for her parents. "That's right peanut. Daddy and I love you so much."
They stay with her as the doctors and nurses make certain that the baby is ok. She is. She's all right, their brave little girl. She's only a few hours old, and Regina knew, she knew the second her daughter was born, felt her little girl enter the would. It makes sense now that Regina knows her baby has such powerful magic that is already connected to her mama's.
Regina reaches her free hand out to Robin, wonders if he's frightened by the magic radiating from their child. Regina sees pure joy on Robin's face as he wraps his arm around her and pulls her close, whispers "I love you" against her cheek.
"I love you," she murmurs back, awed at her life, joy and love filling her so completely. She kisses him for a moment and then her eyes are back on their beautiful daughter.
Long hours later the baby is given a clean bill of health and Robin and Regina are able to bring her home. The boys are with the Charmings, on their way home shortly to meet their sister.
While they wait, Regina and Robin have curled up on their bed together with their little girl. She's in Robin's arms, wrapped in a hand knitted blanket, a gift from Snow that had brought Regina to tears. Regina is leaning against Robin's chest, her hand never leaving their daughter, stroking soft wispy brown hair and playing with tiny fingers, so perfect and beautiful her little baby girl.
Regina can hear the pain in Robin's voice when he speaks, his eyes downcast. "I love her so much. I didn't think…"
Regina's reaches up to cup Robin's cheek. "I always knew. Our girl is so lucky to have the best daddy in the whole world."
"And the best mother." He pauses, considering how to ask. "She already knows you. Regina, she literally lights up when you hold her."
"I can feel her." Regina looks at Robin with so much wonder. "She has this amazing light, good, beautiful magic. I feel it calling to me. I feel her love and trust every time I touch her."
"She knows her mama. " Tears begin to roll down Robin's cheeks. "Thank you my love."
"No, thank you for trusting me to be her mom."
"Regina, you're the woman I love and an incredible mother. There is no one else I would choose to raise a family with. I am so grateful everyday that you gave me a second chance."
"Please Robin, it's time to leave regrets in the past. Nothing that happened was your fault. I love you Robin, and that will never change. I have you and our children, and this life we have together with our family is everything that I have ever wanted."
Robin nods, accepting the grace that he still doesn't feel completely deserving of. He can't change the past, but he will do everything in his power to fill Regina's future with so much love and joy every day.
"I feel her love for you too Robin. When you touch her, when you talk to her, the magic radiating off her is amazing. You soothe her and make her feel loved. Which is a feeling I understand."
"Thank you," Robin whispers, leaning his forehead against hers. "I will try every day to be worthy of the faith you both have in me."
"You already are." Regina kisses Robin, savors the feeling of his lips against hers.
Regina sighs contentedly and leans her head on Robin's shoulder next to their baby's sweet little face, her arm wrapped around Robin's waist. "She needs a name. Do you still like Anna?"
"As long as it's all right with you."
"Of course I want to honor the woman who helped make you the man you are."
"I wish you could have met her. She would have adored you."
Regina can't help but laugh, is certain there isn't a mother in the world who would be happy that her son fell in love with the Evil Queen. But somehow Robin doesn't see that, he sees Regina. And she knows without a doubt that he would be so proud to introduce her to his mother.
"I'm sorry she isn't here to meet her granddaughter."
"Me too." Robin stares at his daughter, tears welling in his eyes. He looks at his baby and all he sees is beauty. Some dark part of his heart had feared that she would be touched by how she was conceived. He had been so terrified he would see Zelena when he looked at his baby. But he doesn't. He sees Regina's daughter, through and through. He sees a brave girl with a beautiful heart and light magic. "I love her so much."
"I know." Regina leans up to press a kiss to Robin's lips. He's suffered so much these last months worrying every day whether he would love their baby as he loves Roland. Regina is so relieved that finally Robin is able to hold Anna and realize what she never doubted: that he loves his daughter without reservation.
Regina leans down to kiss their daughter's head, so grateful that she's safe. "Hi there Anna. We're so happy to have you home sweetheart. Daddy and I love you so much."
"We do baby girl," Robin says, kissing his daughter too. "I love you Anna. You're our perfect little daughter."
Regina is suddenly overwhelmed, chokes back a sob. Robin looks at her worried, but she's smiling so brightly. "We have a daughter." Her smile could light up the room, makes Robin's heart so full. Regina runs her fingers along Robin's cheek and giggles. "I have you and Henry and Roland and now Anna. I'm so happy."
"As am I my love. You make me so happy, and I will spend the rest of our lives trying to make you happy."
"Having you makes me happier than I ever thought possible. You don't need to do anything besides be here with me."
"Always."
For a long moment Regina and Robin lose themselves in staring at Anna. Blue eyes that open when her parents coo at her. Fingers that grasp onto their hands. Their sweet sweet baby.
They're pulled from their wonder by the sound of the front door banging open. Robin watches Regina jump, hates how easily she startles, knows the years of abuse and pain she suffered. Robin's heart hurts so much thinking of what was done to Regina. He aches with the knowledge that he can't take that pain from her.
But then their boys are running into the room, and Regina's face bursts into a beautiful smile. This right here is all Regina is thinking of, so Robin follows her lead and tries not to be consumed by the pain of the past. He'll hold her and listen when she needs to speak of that pain, but now is not the time. Now is the time to think of the incredible joy of this day that their baby was born.
Henry and Roland are running towards the bed, Henry holding Roland's hand to make sure he doesn't become careless in his excitement and jump too close to their sister. The sight makes Regina's heart impossibly fuller. Henry is such a good, kind young man. She didn't ruin her beautiful son. He's smiling at her and looking so happy that his mother has her happy ending. She wraps her arm around him and presses a kiss to his hair.
"Congratulations." Henry tells his mom and Robin. He's cuddled against Regina's side, peering at the bundle in Robin's arms. "She's so cute."
"Do you want to hold her?" Robin asks. He's seen Henry with Neal, knows the boy is as good with babies as he is with Roland.
Robin reaches across Regina to gently place Anna into her big brother's arms. Roland bounces across the bed, following his sister excitedly.
"What's her name?" Roland asks.
"Anna," Robin tells his son, "after Grandma."
"Hi Anna. I'm Roland, your big brother. And that's Henry. He's also your big brother. We're going to be the best brothers ever."
Henry chuckles and rocks Anna in his arms. "Roland's right you know," he tells Anna. "We are going to be the best big brothers in the world." Anna fusses in Henry's arms, her little fists reaching out from the blanket.
Regina reaches out for her baby's hand, letting Anna grasp on to her finger and bring it to her mouth. She looks between Anna and Henry and is so overwhelmed by her love for them.
"My babies," she says, tears gathering in her eyes. Roland looks up at her questioningly and hopefully. She picks him up and sets him in her lap, her arms wrapped tight around him. "My three beautiful babies." She kisses his forehead. "I love you all so much, and I am the luckiest mom in the whole world."
Roland turns in Regina's arms and throws his arms around her neck. "I love you…mommy."
Regina gasps, looks over at Robin. He smiles at her with a little nod before wrapping his arms around her and Roland.
Regina rubs Roland's back. "I'm very lucky to be your mommy. So very lucky my sweet boy."
She reaches out for Henry, presses her palm to his cheek. He's been her only child his whole life, and she worries that this change will be hard for him, that he won't know how much she loves him.
He smiles at her and tells her, "I love you Mom. Roland, Anna, and I are the lucky ones. I was so lucky that you chose to be my Mom, just like my brother and sister are. We're a family, all five of us. So don't start worrying too much, ok?"
Robin snorts out a laugh and turns to Regina, who is doing her best to try to scowl. "He is so very much your child."
Regina chuckles and looks at Henry. "I am quite proud of that sass."
Henry grins. "Like Robin said, I'm your kid."
Regina looks around her at her children and her soulmate. Finally, wonderfully home.
