Chapter 4 – Coming Home

"Marian! Marian! Come here!" Robin was so excited about the raven and Regina's note that he seemed to forget who he was actually calling out for. When Marian arrived in the doorway his face turned funny. "Oh no…"

"Robin what's going on?" Marian looked back and forth between the bird on the window sill and Robin. "Are you alright?" She had noticed when his face had taken a funny turn.

"Yeah, I'm alright. This bird just showed up with a note from," he paused, he wasn't sure how she would take the fact that the note was from Regina.

"From Regina," she offered with a soft smile. Robin knew it hurt her, but he was starting to realize that maybe there was more to the situation between the two women than he knew.

"Yeah. Anyway, as I went to let the bird in I looked at the map, and look!" Marian walked over to the desk and looked to where he was pointing. Sure enough Storybrooke had reappeared. "And the note, well the note said we can come home, but I don't know, I can't just leave you out here by yourself."

"Maybe you don't have too. Maybe if she found a way to let you come back, she can find a way for me to stay." Marian smiled gently again. There was definitely something between the two of them that he wasn't privy to. "Why don't you send the bird back with a message saying we are on our way, and see if there is something she can think of to help me." She left the room calling out to Roland to start packing up his few belongings.

"You know, she may be right." Robin spoke out loud to the raven that was still in the window, "Here", he wrote out the message and tied it to the bird's leg. "Find Regina!"

As he watched the raven fly away out the window Robin pressed his fingers to his lips and murmured, "We'll be home soon M'lady, we'll be home soon."

-o-o-

"Enough!" Rumple had had it with the two women bickering with each other. There had to be something more productive that they could be doing. It wasn't his fault that the blasted bird hadn't returned yet. Maleficent had seen Regina's mockingbird leave Gold's shop and had quietly intercepted it. She had then sent her own raven, and the note that was meant for Robin on to Rumple in the city. In turn Rumple had sent the raven on to Robin and had collected Ursula and Cruella. Now they were simply waiting. Surely the bird would return with a reply to Regina and they would all be returning to Storybrooke.

What they were expecting to find when they arrived Rumple wasn't really sure. As long as his dear wife had his dagger he couldn't reenter the town, but the one thing that the townspeople weren't counting on was the dragon in their midst. Rumple had restored Maleficent to her human form shortly before leaving town, and no one not Belle or even Regina knew she was there.

"At last that wretched bird is back." Cruella lifted her hand and the bird perched gracefully atop it. She took the note from its leg and read it. "Regina's thief is returning. He's bringing the woman and child with him."

"Good," Robin's return would be the perfect distraction, "then we can all get into town without the rest of them knowing." Rumple looked off into the distance. "Give the bird back the letter. We can't have it too much delayed dearie. Not if we don't expect anyone to notice." With that he took the beast and threw it out into the night. "Go find the Queen." How was he supposed to know that the Queen had sent an entirely different bird…

"Come along dearies," he called as he turned to walk away, "there is somewhere we need to be."

-o-o-

The bird had been gone a week now. A week. How far away had they gone that the bird wasn't back yet? Regina hated using birds to communicate, but in this case it seemed like their only option and the jet black mockingbird had seemed more than capable of the job. Now however Regina wasn't so sure.

She sat at the counter at Granny's with Snow and Emma. Regina's left hand hovered instinctually over her abdomen as she played with her food.

"Regina I know you're worried about Robin, but you have to eat." Snow was giving her a stern look. "This isn't just about you anymore, that baby has to eat too."

"Snow!" Regina knew that Snow was only trying to help, but she was incredibly terrible at keeping secrets. "Hush! Not everyone is privy to all the details of our lives. After all we are still the Royal family…" Now Snow was the one receiving a stern look.

"Just eat Regina," Emma sighed as she got up to leave, "She won't quit nagging until you do." Emma's stage whisper was plenty loud enough for Snow to hear, and it made Regina laugh.

"Emma!"

"Bye mom!" Emma laughed as she left the dinner.

"So Regina, before I blurt your big secret out in public again, as Queen how are you going to tell everyone about the ba- bug?" Regina's sharp look was the only thing that kept Snow from saying baby.

"Tell everyone? Why do I have to tell everyone? It's my body. It's my," she looked around to make sure nobody was listening, "it's my baby." Regina really did whisper that last part.

"Because you're Royal and that's what we do. Believe me I wasn't thrilled about it the first time either. I mean that was considering the fact that you were intent on destroying my happiness at that point." Snow smiled, but she knew that Regina wouldn't take the comment lightly. Any mention of her past mistakes and Regina had taken to either crying or apologizing for everything she had ever done. Neither of which would turn out well in public.

At almost twelve weeks Regina's once flat stomach was starting to show. If she continued to dress in her normal style people were going to notice the pregnancy before she made a formal announcement. "Fine. Help me come up with the best way to tell people here. I know you just kind of said it to the masses back in the Enchanted Forest when you were announcing Neal, but here. Well here is not the Enchanted Forest and I don't have a Prince Charming standing next to me to tell everyone."

"Well, honestly it might be easiest to do it in the same way that we announced Neal's name. Just here at Granny's in front of everyone. That way it's out there and we don't have to keep skating around it anymore."

"You mean so you don't accidentally blow it?" Regina's snarky comments fell on deaf ears.

"I say you just make the announcement tonight. In a dress that shows off that bump." Snow grinned as she dropped cash on the counter and headed for the door.

"I don't have a bump," Regina mumbled to herself as she followed Snow out the door.

The afternoon seemed to go by in a blur. It went much the same as every other day had gone. They went about work as if this were a normal town and there was no magic barrier that was separating them from the outside world. As if Regina wasn't waiting on her mockingbird to bring news back from Robin. It had been a week. She couldn't help it, she watched the window as she went about her work. She paced up and down the office as she read things over. Nothing could keep her still.

Tap, tap, tap. Tap, tap, tap. Regina and Snow exchanged a quick glance and then they both lunged for the window. They pulled up the blind to find the raven sitting on the window sill. A note tied to its leg. Regina took the note as Snow picked up the bird. Regina read:

M'lady,

Nothing has ever made me happier than receiving your note. As I went to open the window for the bird, I glanced at the map that you gave me before we left. The town is back. The red circle you drew now contains the town again! If the magic has truly worked then you may be able to find a way for Marian to return as well. We are all three packing as I write this, we are leaving tonight. As I said before, I choose you.

Forever Your Thief,

Robin of Locksley

Regina's heart leapt. He was coming home. They were all coming home. With her magic combined with the little bug's she was sure that she could take away Marian's curse. He still chose her, he was coming back for her. Regina was so caught up in her excitement that she was just realizing that Snow hadn't said a word.

"Snow, what's the matter?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure. Something is off though. This is a raven, and we sent the note with a mockingbird. You don't think Robin would have used a different bird for some reason do you?"

"Not unless there was something wrong with the first one. It seemed fine when it left here with my note though. We can ask him when they get here."

"They? They are all coming back?"

"Yeah, it's okay though I think the magic that knocked out the curse may have allowed Marian to come into town without dying again. Even if not, I think that the little bug and I may be able to save her, if we work together again."

"Regina I don't really think that was very good for either one of you. You probably shouldn't rely on it, or any of your magic really for the next few months."

Regina shot death glares at Snow from across the room. She had tried quitting magic before, and that always seemed to lead to more trouble than it was worth. Especially now, with an abundance of the stuff floating around in her system. It seemed like everything she did radiated with light magic nowadays. She wasn't going to let Snow tell her how to deal with something she had never experienced.

Afternoon faded to evening and Regina, Snow and baby Neal set off from the Mayors' Office to Granny's. Henry greeted them as they came in the door and Emma took Neal from Snow. Belle and David had secured their favorite corner table and they all settled in. As they ate Snow and Regina filled in the others on Robin's return letter and the fact that Regina felt as though Marian's curse was most likely gone. As Ruby cleared their plates away their conversation came back to the bird.

"So you said the bird was different?" David was looking at Snow, but speaking to the both of them. "What do you mean different?"

"I mean it wasn't the same bird. I sent the letter with a mockingbird and the bird that flew into our office this afternoon was a raven." Regina looked at them all in turn as she spoke.

"Why would he switch birds?" Henry seemed to be thinking out loud, "That doesn't make any sense, you would think the same bird would make the return trip faster."

"You're right kid, none of this makes any sense. If you sent one bird that's the bird that should have returned with his message."

"Who's sending messages by bird?" Killian had just joined them as he came into the diner with some of the Merry Men.

Everyone put their heads down, so Belle answered him, "Regina used a mockingbird to send a message to Robin, but his return message came via raven. No one is really sure why."

"Ah…" Killian seemed to understand the dilemma, small things like this could lead to serious problems in this town.

"Umm, pardon me m'lady," Little John was addressing Regina from where he had entered the diner behind Killian, "did I hear say you sent a message to Robin."

"Yes," Regina replied smiling as she stood to address the Merry Man, "he, along with Marian and Roland should be returning to town soon." Little John smiled as he reached out and hugged the queen.

"I'm sorry Your Majesty!" He apologized suddenly realizing what he had done.

"It's fine Little John," Regina smiled warmly at him, "and I've told you before, it's just Regina."

Little John bowed to her as he backed away, "Of course m'lady." He winked as he stood upright and walked away from them.

Regina remained standing as she looked around the diner. A good number of people were here, the dwarves were sitting along the counter. Robin's Merry Men, including Will and Little John were sitting in the booths along the wall. Granny and Ruby were running the show, her family was sitting in the front window. She took a deep breath. It was time.

She cleared her throat loudly, "Excuse me everyone, may I have your attention?" Every voice in the diner died out as all eyes turned to face the Queen. "As a lot of you know, before Robin left, he and I had a somewhat serious relationship." She looked over at Emma and Snow who were smiling and nodding, encouraging her to go on. "Anyway, shortly after Robin and his family left town I made a somewhat startling discovery. It turns out that Robin left something behind when he left." She put a hand on her stomach and saw the recognition in some faces as she continued. "As Queen, it's only right that I announce this formally and publicly, so here you go. I, Regina Mills, am carrying Robin Hood's baby, and it's time that was no longer a secret."

Regina smiled and blushed as the whole place erupted in applause and shouts of congratulations. No one noticed at first when the front door to the diner opened and three people came in. "Regina?"

Everyone froze, all eyes turned from Regina to Robin as they realized what they were about to witness. Regina moved towards Robin but stopped just inches short. She looked up into his face as he bent and kissed her. Long and hard, like they had been separated years, not months. Regina turned a bright shade of red as she turned to apologize to Marian.

Before she even opened her mouth Marian stopped her. "Just take care of him, and love them both for me okay?" Regina nodded and smiled at the woman who had once hated her. She didn't think she could be any happier, at least until…

"Regina?"

"Yes Roland?"

"Why is everyone so happy?"

"Well, you see," Regina wrapped her arms around Robin's waist, "I was just telling everyone about the present your daddy left with me before you all went away." She looked up into Robin's confused eyes as she spoke to his young son.

"I didn't leave anything special with you." Robin was obviously missing what she was trying to tell him. "What are you smiling about?"

"Robin," Regina spoke the next part quietly, after all everyone else already knew, "we are having a baby."

He picked her up, spun her around and kissed her again to the applause and cheers of everyone there. Henry and Roland high-fived and everyone seemed genuinely happy for the pair of them. Only Marian noticed when the small, blonde woman at the back of the diner slowly got up and left out the back door.