His wife had entered their room a few minutes ago, had replaced her day-clothes for her nightgown and quickly dove under the covers. She then turned her back to him, closed her eyes and pretended to fall asleep. Of course, sleep would not come to her until she knew her husband had fallen asleep next to her. Until that moment, every other would be one spend wondering if tonight would be an painful night or not. She supposed she was to bed him again, at least once a month, but she'd avoid it as much as possible. She just hoped tonight she'd be left alone. But alas, luck was never on her side.

"Regina. It's been more than a week." He said as he undressed himself as well. "We should probably... you know."

She sat up, both horrified and sad, but nodded. "If you must."

The king proceeded in joining her on the bed, his undergarments soon forgotten, and positioned himself above his unwilling wife. She didn't struggle, she knew better than that, nor did she look terrified as she had that first time. She had put up that wall he had seen once before and looked at him. Or rather past him, through him, at the ceiling. She let out a sigh as he pushed her legs apart and laid between them. The last time he had let anger be his guide. Now there was nothing, no anger, no passion, nothing. His body reacted, she was a beautiful woman, but that was all.

"Regina, it's not... The angle, I'm not sure. It's just not going..." He tried. She hurried out from underneath him and sat up against the headboard. She looked at his face and then she looked at his manhood. "Maybe we should try a different..."

"Position?" She finished. "Well, I don't... I don't know any."

He knew she didn't. "I do."

"What would you like me to do?" She tried playing the part of the obedient wife. It didn't suit her. She never got her response. Only a grunt, two hands placed on her hips and the sounds of the sheets dropping before he tossed her on her stomach. Her head was covered in the pillow, any objections would be futile seeing as she couldn't make them and the pillow made sure he couldn't hear them. But once he lifted her bottom she was able to support her weight on her elbows. Before she could ask what he intended to do she felt him roughly enter her. She let out a surprised cry, but that was the only sound she'd make that night. Any other noises she had she kept to herself as he finished after 6 agonizing minutes and 51 long seconds. Once he did, he let go of her hips and she fell down on the mattress. He waited a second or two before he stood up, grabbed the fallen sheets and threw them on top of Regina, who made quick work of covering herself up. He then took the heavier blanket and covered them with that too before he slowly drifted off to sleep.


The months planning Snow's surprise-birthday-party passed quickly and a guestlist was made and guests invited, all in secrecy of course. The morning before the day of the party was an horrible one to Regina. She was sick. She, a young eighteen-year-old, had no idea. But both king and staff was awfully excited. After Regina had emptied her stomach of her breakfast the king dragged her to the court-physician, all but threw her down onto a chair and ordered the poor doctor to look after his wife. He was soon called back with joyous news.

"The Queen is expecting." The man said. Although it was a happy message his face did not show it.

"This is wonderful. Snow's surprise-birthday-party will not only bring the people joy on celebrating the life of their most precious princess, it'll also tell them about a new child, possible an heir!" The king rattled on. But then the man looked at the physician and his happy face changed to mirror the doctor's serious one.

The man shook his head. "You do not understand, Your Majesty, the queen is too young to bear. Some women aren't able to do so before their twentieth birthday, others not before their thirtieth and some never. The Queen will never be able to carry this child full-term, it will die and if it's not terminated before it's too late, the queen might die with it." He sighed before looking at Regina. She was listening, but obviously not part of the conversation. "I'm telling you, wait another year or so, then you'll have an healthy heir."

"You do not understand!" The king roared. "I might not be here a year from now. War, enemies, anything. I'm old."

"And I'm telling you this child will never live, it'll never breathe!"

The king puffed, then grabbed Regina's arm and dragged her back to their room, muttering all sorts of things under his breath. He placed her upon their bed as if she were a rag-doll. "This child will live." He told her. "You'll see."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to call help from the only one who can. Rumplestiltskin."

Regina already started to object, but the name had been said and she saw the imp sitting in the windowsill. "My my." He said, smirking. "I never would have guessed I'd ever be called to court. But then again, some things can't be obtained with money." He giggled. "Only with magic."

"Dark One." The king spoke. "The physician claims my new child" He walked over to Regina and placed his hand on her stomach. "will be stillborn. Can you do anything about it?"

"Well, dearie, I've seen the future and your physician is right. Poor little thing doesn't stand a chance. The queen is much too small, you might consider feeding her." The green imp joked. "But it won't do you any good. Regina will not have children."

"Ever?"

"I did not say that." He grinned. "But this..." He pointed at her stomach. "Whatever it is, will never be born."

The king stood up so he was just a bit taller than Rumplestiltskin. "Can't you do anything about it? You know, with your magic?"

"I can take it's soul away and send it to another land. You will never meet it, but it'll be alive... In the body of another."

"No." Regina finally spoke. "That will not happen." She then turned to Leopold and placed her hands on his chest. His head had fallen with grief already and he couldn't look her in the eyes. "It'll be fine. I'll just do my best. I won't do anything but drink tea and sit on my bum all day. It'll be fine."

A most annoying giggle came from the other side of the room. "It won't be. It'll die."

"Then it'll die. It obviously isn't meant to live." A slap silenced her. She grabbed her cheek as she fell down against the bed.

He pointed his finger at her. "You. Be quiet. It's all your fault anyway. I'm locking you in this room and you're not to move. We'll celebrate Snow's birthday after this child is born or... gone."

"Seems to be a little late for that." The imp said, surprisingly not giggling but sincere. "I'm sorry." He then pointed at Regina's skirt, which now supported a bright red stain.

A short chapter, I know I know. And as some of you might notice I've changed the last chapters. I read them again and honestly: they sucked and I am sorry. I shall update as soon as I can and again: I apologize for my awful writing.