Don't give up
Because you want to burn bright
If darkness blinds you
I...I will shine to guide you

("You Are Loved (Don't Give Up)," Josh Groban)


Chapter 9: Emma

The doorbell rang before lunch the day after Christmas. Robin picked up his bow as I went to answer the door, checking through the peephole. "It's Barb and Joe," I told him. "You can put that down."

He did so as I opened the door. Barbara beamed as she threw her arms around me. "Surprise! Merry Christmas."

"It is a surprise. Did you really drive down from Maine to visit us?" I hugged her tightly.

Joe nodded. "We wanted to celebrate with you three. Especially Barb."

"We've wasted too many Christmases already," she replied, letting me go.

Robin put on his coat, slipping past us. "I'll help you with your things, Joe," he said.

As the two pulled the bags from the trunk of Joe's car, I ushered Barb inside. Roland sat on the steps, watching as I took my cousin's coat. She approached the boy. "Hello, Roland. Merry Christmas."

"Christmas was yesterday," he said, confused.

Barb laughed. "Christmas lasts until after the New Year. So we can say it for the next week."

Roland cheered, smiling. "Do I get presents as well?"

"You will today because Cousin Barb and Cousin Joe brought them," I said, crossing my arms. "But don't expect any tomorrow."

He pouted but nodded. Joe handed Barb a black garbage bag I knew contained the presents. She smiled at me. "Give me one second."

Barb pulled Joe into the living room with her as Robin lugged all the bags in. He looked at me. "So, where are we putting them?"

Despite the fact that when Dad bought this house it was just him and me, he bought a four-bedroom house. Robin and I had moved into the master bedroom, which was attached to the bathroom. On the other side of that was my dad's old study, which I was hoping to turn into a nursery. Roland's bedroom was at the very top of the stairs, right between the study and the linen closet. Which left one more bedroom which I prayed had a bed because it was going to have to be our guest room.

I opened the door and the smell of musk nearly sent me running down to the bathroom. Robin must've noticed my greenish color as he dropped the bags again to wrap his arms around me. "Are you okay?"

"This room needs to be aired out. Can you open the window?" I pressed my sleeve to my mouth in an attempt to filter out the awful smell.

Robin did as I asked, sending a blast of arctic air into the room. But it started to relieve the room of the smell, allowing me to lower my arm. I clapped my hands, staring at moth eaten sheets. "Okay, everything pretty much has to go."

"That's going to take forever," Robin replied, rubbing the back of his neck.

He was right. As I surveyed the room, I realized we only had one option. "Close the door," I told him.

"Regina, no."

"We don't really have another choice," I said, rolling up my sleeves. "So close the door."

He sighed, doing as I asked. Robin then kissed my cheek. "Be careful."

"Of course." I held up my hands, concentrating as I filled myself up with all the love I could. As I thought I was close to bursting, I felt power surging through me and charging out of my fingertips. Purple smoke swirled about the room, looking like some weird windstorm.

When it dissipated, the room was immaculate. Crème sheets covered the bed with a deep red blanket on top. Dust and cobwebs were gone and the wood of the furniture was polished. The white paint of the walls was nice and fresh and red curtains fluttered in the wintery breeze. Giddy, I turned to Robin and held my arms out to show him what I had done.

He laughed, letting me embrace him. "Looks like you're not rusty at all," he said.

"Nope." I pulled away. "Now to hide it from my cousin and her husband for a week. Easy, right?"

"Don't worry. I'll be right by your side, no matter what happens." He paused. "Unless you set me on fire. Then you're on your own."

I glared at him, crossing my arms. "Don't tempt me, Lord Locksley."

"Never," he said, faking indignation. He then smirked, pulling me close. "Well, never in that way."

He leaned down to kiss me but someone knocked on the door. I closed my eyes, grimacing. "We have company."

"Right. I forgot about them." Robin sighed, taking my hand. "Come on, milady. Let's go be perfect hosts."


Roland didn't want to go to bed that night, certain he was going to miss all the fun we adults were going to have without him. He sat, curled up on my lap, even when it became clear that all we were going to do was sit around the living room talking. Robin tried to coax him to bed every so often but he would shake his head, fisting my shirt as if it would tether him in place. As the night wore on, he became heavier and heavier until he was dead weight against me, sound asleep.

"Here, let me take him." Robin leaned down, ready to scoop our son up.

I held Roland closer. "It's fine. He's fine."

"Okay, but you let me know when he gets to be too much," Robin said, sitting down next to me.

Barb smiled as she stood. "This is such a sweet scene, I need to get my camera. Don't move!"

Joe shook his head as he watched his wife leave the room. "Sorry about her. We didn't have any children of her own and I think she's adopted you to fill that role."

"I don't mind," I replied. "What about you, Robin?"

"I'm fine." He toyed with my hair as I leaned against him, adjusting Roland on my lap.

Barb returned, snapping a few pictures of us. "These are going to look so adorable. I'll send you one."

"Well, now that we've got that out of the way, why don't we turn on the nightly news? See what's going on?" Joe said, turning on the TV.

"The nightly news can be so depressing," I replied. "It gives Robin nightmares."

"It doesn't give me nightmares!"

I sighed, rolling my eyes. "Sorry. It makes him paranoid."

Robin pinched my side and I gave a little yelp, wiggling away from him. He gave me a devilish grin as I rolled my eyes.

"Hush. I'm trying to watch the nightly news," Joe said, leaning forward to hear the TV better.

Barb rolled her eyes, swatting her husband. "We're at Regina and Robin's, not home. You can go without the nightly news for a few nights."

Joe hushed her again as the anchor began speaking: "And in other news, there have been reports of people suddenly developing strange abilities. One person caused candles to burst into flame just by being near them and another vanished into thin air, only to appear somewhere else five miles away. Most people believe these are hoaxes but the strange incidents continue…"

I sat up straighter, looking up at Robin. Confusion clouded his blue eyes and he tensed up, knowing like me that something was not right. Though the news cast had moved on to the weather (another snow storm was predicted before the New Year), Joe turned off the TV with a sigh. "Maybe you were right, Barb," he said. "Maybe I can go without the nightly news for a few nights. Especially if they are reporting such lunacy as that."

"I think I'm going to turn in for the night," I said, wanting far away from the living room as possible. "Robin, can you take Roland?"

He nodded, picking up the boy. Once he had a good hold on him, he held out his hand to help me up as well. Barb and Joe also stood, hugging us. "We'll see you in the morning," she said.

Once we were safe in our room I let my panic show. "Robin, what do you think is going on?"

"I don't know." He sat on the bed, pulling me on to his lap. "But it seems you aren't the only one this land with latent magical abilities."

"It makes sense. But why is this happening? And what if…" I chewed my lip.

Robin pushed my hair back, his expression softening. "What?"

"What if it has to do with the curse? What if Zelena has messed up my world without even coming here?"

"But why would it take two months after we got here?" Robin asked.

I knew my eyes widened as it dawned on me. "I got my magic back on the winter solstice, Robin. And I fell into the Enchanted Forest on the summer solstice. There must be something about the solstice…What do you think?"

"I think we need to go to bed." He kissed my forehead. "We all need rest. You and Rachel most of all."

I nodded, trying to climb off his lap. But he tightened his hold on me first, his gaze intent and fiery. "No matter what happens, Regina, I promise no harm will come to you. I will do everything in my power to protect everyone in this household."

"I know," I whispered, kissing him. "I always feel safe around you."

Both of us assured, we climbed under the blankets. Robin turned off the lights as I curled next to him. He nuzzled my hair before he began singing about a knight and his rare jewel.

My favorite.


Talk of magic and people with strange powers was nonexistent at the table the next morning and I was glad. Instead, we ate breakfast and made plans for the day. Roland wanted to learn how to ride his bike but with snow and ice still coating the sidewalks, I had to nix that idea. "Don't worry, sweetheart," I assured him. "You'll learn how to ride soon enough."

Roland pouted and I wondered if maybe we should've held off on the bike until his birthday. At least it would've been one month closer to spring than now.

"Why don't we go down to the rec center and you can show Barbara and Joe your archery skills?" Robin suggested. It perked Roland up and he nodded.

Barb agreed to come with us to the rec center to see Robin in action. Joe though had to stay behind to get some work done. "The law doesn't take a holiday," he quipped with a shrug.

So we piled into Barb's car after breakfast and drove to the rec center. Barb took a seat on the bench as Robin and Roland set up. Roland was improving each time and was showing signs that he would be as good, if not better, than his legendary father. I beamed with pride and hoped that somewhere, Marian was as well.

Once Roland was finished, he settled onto the bench next to Barb as Robin and I claimed adjacent targets. Robin flashed me a smile. "Are you up to the challenge, milady?"

"Put up or shut up, Locksley." I raised my bow and readied my arrow. "I just hope your ego can handle it when I beat you."

"Bold words."

"I am a bold woman."

"That you are." He smiled, raising his own bow. "On my count. One, two, three."

We let loose our arrows. His hit dead center, mine was off. I glared at him. "This isn't over."

"Oh, I imagined not," he said as we reloaded. "On your count?"


When we came back, Barb couldn't wait to tell her husband all about mine. "You need to see Robin. He's amazing," she said, going into our kitchen where Joe had set up his makeshift office. "Regina and Roland too but Robin is like something from a legend."

Robin's cheeks were a bright pink and it was starting to spread to his ears. I rose on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek, whispering: "You are a legend."

"It still feels so strange." He let me tug him into the kitchen to join Joe and Barb.

The mood in there was solemn and Joe looked serious, almost like someone had died. I held Robin's hand as my stomach twisted in knots. "What's wrong?"

"I just got off the phone with Joanie," he replied.

My knots turned into nausea and I leaned against Robin. "Is it Emma?"

He nodded. "The Swans gave her back."

"What?" Anger rolled off Robin as his hand tightened around mine. "The people deemed better parents than us gave her back? Who the hell does that?"

"Did they give a reason why?" I asked, just as angry.

"Joanie is still trying to piece things together. There was something about strange things happening." He sighed. "They called Emma 'Rosemary's Baby,' Regina."

Ice ran through my veins as Robin gave me a confused look. Swallowing, I excused us and took Robin into the dining room. I slid the doors closed to give us privacy.

"Regina? What's wrong? Who is this Rosemary they speak of?" he asked, frowning.

"It's a movie that's complicated to explain. Essentially, the Swans are saying Emma's evil."

Robin's face grew redder. "Evil? Why the fuck would they say that?"

"Emma was powerful enough for me to feel her magic while she was still in Snow's womb. If my magic is back, hers must be too."

"Strange things had been happening," he echoed Joe. He took my hands. "We need to adopt her. No one else will understand her magic or help her use it like you."

"Me? I can barely use mine."

He pulled me close. "It's not like Emma needs guidance now. You have some time to master your own skills."

"True."

"And you want Emma to come live with us."

"Of course."

"Then we need to do everything we can to get her." He pulled away to look me in the eyes. "I think you know what we have to do."

I nodded. "We need to tell Barb and Joe the truth."


We sat at the kitchen table, my cousins staring at us as they processed the story Robin and I just told them. Barb took a deep breath before asking: "You're serious? This isn't some joke you're playing on us?"

I shook my head. "I didn't spend a year and a half living in Sherwood. I lived in a land full of fairy tales."

"Robin Locksley…lost a wife named Marian…" Joe was looking at Robin as if he was seeing him for the first time. "Really good with archery."

"Like something from a legend," Barb repeated her words from earlier. She stared at Robin. "You're really Robin Hood?"

He nodded. "I really robbed from the rich and gave to the poor. Until I found another cause."

"Fighting the Wicked Witch of the West?" Joe asked. When Robin nodded again, he rubbed his face. "So if she cursed everyone to this land, how did you three escape?"

"A fairy," Robin replied. "She used pixie dust on me and Roland."

"And the only thing the curse was ever going to do was bring me back here," I added.

Barb took Joe's hand. "I know this sounds ridiculous, Joe, but I believe them."

"I don't know," Joe replied, hesitance in his voice.

"Robin, get me a bowl of water, please," I asked.

He frowned. "What do you want that for?"

"Trust me," I pleaded. "Please."

Robin stood and got the bowl I requested. He placed it before me before taking his seat again. I looked at Joe. "Seeing is believing, right?"

I decided not to use my signature fireballs, not wanting to scare them. So I recalled how I once entertained Roland at the thawing fountain in the palace courtyard. Dipping my finger in the water, it changed into multiple colors. I raised my hand and water followed, forming columns of color and light. It danced, following my fingers. As I created patterns in the air, Joe's eyes grew wider and wider. "That's amazing," he said.

"This just a small fraction of what she can do," Robin said, pride coloring his words.

Barb frowned. "So does Emma have magic? Despite being so young?"

I shrugged. "Magic is still new to me. I don't know how early it can present. But I do now that Emma was born of true love, which is powerful in and of itself. That might have made her even more powerful."

"So it's in Emma's best interest to be placed with you two," Joe said before sighing. "The problem will be convincing a judge of it."

"I know you can do it," I said, holding Robin's hands. "We need our goddaughter with us."

Joe took a deep breath. "I'll see what Joanie and I can do."


I didn't know what they did, what they said to convince the judge to give us Emma. All I knew was that Robin and I were sitting in a government office a few days after the New Year's, waiting to take Emma home. Joanie met us and escorted us into an empty conference room. She smiled at us. "Congrats, you two. You've won."

"How? I mean, I don't want to sound ungrateful but they said Robin and I weren't a good match," I said. "What changed their minds?"

Joanie sighed. "To be honest, this whole magic now exists thing. It's throwing a lot of things off. And if you're willing to take in a child with magic, they'll agree to anything."

"I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not," I replied.

Robin took my hand. "In this case, it's a good thing. We're getting Emma."

The door opened and a social worker walked in, holding a wriggling Emma. Her little fists flung about and she looked five seconds away from having a royal tantrum. She looked beautiful to me and I held out my arms, crying.

"Here you go," the social worker said. "She's yours now."

I kissed the squirming infant, nuzzling her as she began to let out little whimpers. "It's okay, sweet princess. You're with Robin and me now. We're going to love you and keep you safe," I whispered.

Robin wrapped his arms around us, kissing her head. "Hello, Emma. You're coming home at last."

"She's been fussy since I picked her up," the social worker told us, handing Robin the diaper bag. "I'm not sure why."

"What's wrong, princess?" I cupped her head, rubbing a thumb over her chubby cheek. The word then echoed in my head: Wet.

Frowning, I moved a hand down to her bottom and felt she was in fact wet right through to her onesie. When was the last time she was changed? "Robin, I need a fresh diaper and see if she has a clean change of clothes in there," I said.

Joanie stayed with me as I changed Emma for the first time, taking off her very wet diaper and drying her bottom. The lawyer shook her head. "No wonder she was fussy. I'm surprised no one checked her diaper."

I put the fresh onesie on Emma, the one I bought her that said "Little Princess" with a pink tiara embroidered on it. Next I wrapped her in a coat and placed little gloves on her tiny hands. "There you go, Emma. You're all ready to go out into the cold New England air."

Robin picked her up, cradling her in his arms and she smiled. "You remember me, don't you, sweet girl?"

Emma let out something that sounded like a giggle and she kicked her legs. The lights in the room flickered and I smiled, knowing she was really happy in Robin's arms.

"That's what the Swans were talking about," the social worker told us. "Are you okay with it?"

I nodded. "We'll be fine with that. Thank you again, both of you. But we're going to take Emma home now."


A/N: So Robin and Regina have Emma! And more and more people have magic. But why? And what will happen to them? Find out as the story continues!

Since Baby Hood has no name yet on the show, I'm going to refer to her as "Peanut" as the tumblr fandom has taken to calling her. I think Peanut looks absolutely adorable and I would like to ask the show for lots of scenes with Peanut and Robin for the entirely selfish reasons of Sean Maguire with a baby and for pictures/gifs of Robin and Rachel when the time comes. I think the twist of Hook being a Dark One now is interesting and I can't wait to see where they go with it. As for the Merida episode, it was nice but it absolutely killed the momentum achieved by "Birth." I'm not sure why they paced it that way but I guess the main cast needed a break. Amy Manson did shine and I loved seeing Jamie and Meghan back.

For my American readers, I hope you have a great Thanksgiving on Thursday. I want all of my readers to know that I am grateful for all of you. You have been so great to me this past year and I cherish each and every one of you.

-Mac