A/N: HI everyone :) Thank you for reading the last chapter, and continuing with the story. I hope you enjoy this latest instalment and, as always, any advice or criticism is greatly appreciated, whether it's regarding the plot, characterisation or writing style. I know the chapters are quite long, and if you feel they're too long or unnecessarily detailed please let me know. I'd really like to improve my writing and your input is invaluable.
Thank you, and happy reading :)
-HQ21
Zelena smiled to herself as she spread out across the couch before the fire, twirling the dagger around in her hands, her eyes drawn to the crimson blood which was encrusted upon the ancient blade. The light from the fire kept catching the blade at a certain angle, causing strobes of light to shine off it, tracing thin lines of light across the ceiling and walls. She was so enraptured in her interaction with the blade, and the memories it caused her to relive with satisfaction, that she did not notice that Mr Gold had entered the cabin, until the sound of his voice drew her instantly from her thoughts.
"Having fun, deary?" he asked, pressing his cane upon the ground and supporting himself upon it, as the sorceress turned her head towards him and faced him with a smile.
"Oh yes" she replied gleefully, easing her legs off the edge of the couch and rising, holding the blade by her side as she walked towards him. "Best fun I've had in ages" she purred, raising the dagger in their air and before Gold's face, whose eyes turned keenly towards it. Zelena watched him smirk as he considered the blade, before his face quickly adopted a tense and displeased expression.
"Who's blood is that?" he asked, his voice so low and his tone so cutting that it startled Zelena from her gloating. She slowly lowered the blade and recounted the incident with Robin, her eyes alight as she relished in telling Gold every detail. When she finished he was silent for a moment, before his eyes narrowed and he exhaled sharply. "You attacked Robin Hood?" he asked aghast.
"Yes" Zelena stated simply, confused at his evident displeasure. "Why does it matter to you?" she demanded. "I may not be able to harm my sister but I can certainly maim her lover" she sneered.
"No, deary, you can't" he replied immediately, his voice echoing the tone of the Rumpelstiltskin of the Enchanted Forest. "Such a violent and unnecessary act will only attract attention, and provide a strong reason for Miss Swan and her friends to come looking for you" he seethed. "And, by extension, me" he added, speaking the words venomously as he took a step towards her. "Until now they had been focused on protecting themselves. And now, your bloody and violent attack on Robin Hood has given them the greatest of motivations to hunt you down like a dog" he stated. Zelena's eyes burned with anger.
"And what did you think they were going to do when they realised the dagger was missing?" she stated incredulously, her voice rising as her cheeks flushed red. "Send me a letter kindly requesting it's return?" she stated, taking a step further to Gold as she spoke, her chest heaving. "You told me to take the dagger. That was always going to increase their efforts to find me" she spat, her dark eyes meeting his. "Which they won't".
"Won't they?" Gold asked, staring at her hard as he spoke, his voice low and cold. "No, deary, you're probably right" he stated, causing Zelena to look up to him with confusion. "Because this" he stated, grabbing her wrist and pulling it into the air, the dagger resting in the space between them, "is not the dagger" he hissed. Zelena's eyes darkened and a doubtful look crossed her features.
"Of course it is" she stated, tensing beneath the tight grip of Mr Gold. "I found Robin trying to take it from it's hiding place in the vault and conceal it on his-"
"Well then he fooled you!" Gold stated emphatically, releasing his hold on her wrist and gripping his cane tightly in his hand. "This is not the real dagger. What you have as an imitation which, I would imagine, Robin substituted with the true blade at some point during your attack" he continued. "Probably when you were taunting him about his girlfriend" he spat.
"No" Zelena stated, lowering her wrist and moving her head from left to right. "No, it's real. It has to be." Gold's previously calm state changed instantly, and he turned towards her and wrenched the dagger from her grasp, before launching it at the mirror above the fire place, which shattered on impact.
"And yet, it is not!" he yelled. "Which means your efforts this afternoon were all for nothing. You gave them all a very good reason to come after you for absolutely no reason whatsoever" he stated, his voice lowering slightly as he spoke. "And now that they know you've made one attempt on the dagger, they may suspect an alliance between us. And even if they don't, they'll certainly increase their protection of the true dagger, which makes any chance we have of finding it significantly lower than it was before." Zelena's eyes adopted a wild and almost lost expression, as she exhaled deeply and turned towards him.
"Then I'll distract them" she declared. "I'll pay a visit to Henry or Neal or Roland, and give them something else to focus on, so we can find the real dagger."
"The children cannot be harmed" Gold stated, his voice and his patience extremely low. "Regina and the Blue Fairy cast a spell over them which renders them impervious to magic, making them completely unaffected by any spell you try to cast upon them" he stated, watching as Zelena's eyes darkened and her expression adopted a manic and startling look.
"I don't need magic to hurt them" she stated, her tone low and cruel. "I didn't need it with Robin Hood." Gold breathed in deeply and shook his head.
"Did you listen to a single word I just said" Gold asked, facing her with an unmistakeably annoyed expression. "Miss Swan and the others will already be on high-alert. They'll be readying themselves for further attacks, and they may even be looking for you as we speak" he stated, his voice low. "For now, we must remain below the radar. You must stay away from them" he implored. Zelena sighed, placing one hand on her hip as she faced him with a look of defiance.
"What about the spell upon the children?" Zelena asked, her voice low but surprisingly calm. "It hinders our plans. Although magic is not needed against them, it is certainly the most effective method" she stated. "How is the spell broken?"
"Only Regina and the Blue Fairy can break it" Gold stated, his voice calmer and more controlled. "However, the effects can be reversed by the deaths of those who cast the spell in the first place" he stated, watching as Zelena turned towards him with interests. "Which just so happens to tie in quite nicely with our existing plans" he smiled.
"But you said Regina is not to be harmed" Zelena stated, remembering a previous conversation they had had. "You were quite clear."
"I said she cannot be harmed yet" Gold corrected, turning his eyes towards her and meeting her gaze. "But in just over four months time, well" he sighed, smiling slightly as he spoke. "There will be no holding back."
As Gold had predicted, when Emma and the others learned about the near-fatal attack on Robin Hood, they did indeed up their security measures. The children were never unaccompanied by at least one of them, and patrols of the town and searches of the woods and surrounding areas were increased significantly. David and Hook also increased their efforts at shadowing Gold, who they were now convinced was involved somehow, despite the others still remaining doubtful, and believing that Zelena wanted the dagger to manipulate Gold, not protect him. The dagger itself was kept safe by Robin Hood, who concealed it in a location that he kept a secret from everyone; afraid that anyone else possessing the knowledge could fall victim to the same attack as himself.
During the two weeks that followed Robin's attack, Emma and the others met up regularly, discussing their progress and deciding upon and implementing additional measures to keep everyone safe. The meetings occasionally became fraught, with arguments occurring over whether more attempts should be made to locate Zelena, who had not been seen since that evening in the vault. Ultimately it was decided that the safety of the residents of the town was precedent, but the increased patrols and searches were implemented in order to find Zelena, who continued to elude them all. During these weeks, and the meetings and searches which occurred within them, the absence of a central figure was felt by all.
Since Robin's attack Regina had isolated herself from those around her in a manner which reminded Emma of the time when the former Evil Queen was openly accused of murdering Archie. This time, however, Regina had not sought refuge in her vault. She had not returned to her former sanctuary since the incident, the location itself now being desecrated to the highest degree; it was no longer a place of safety and peace, but rather, a physical reminder of the threat her very existence was to those she loved. Every time Regina considered going to the vault, to collect something or to survey the damage her sister had done, the image of Robin's blood upon the cold marble ground of the chambers beneath the crypt paralysed her with fear, and she banished the thought immediately. Instead, she spent her time in her mansion or her office, where she continued her work.
During this time Regina remained very reclusive, interacting with the others via her phone or occasionally on her front porch, but never outside her home, which she refused to allow anyone to enter. On a couple of occasions she had heard the door open or footsteps in the foyer, and had emerged from a room or door to find Henry in the home they once shared, smiling at her pleasantly whilst offering her something from Granny's. Although Regina feared greatly for his safety, she was reassured by the knowledge that the spell she had cast protected him. At that moment, he was perhaps the only one who was truly safe from the magical potential of her wicked sister. But after witnessing what Zelena had done to Robin, Regina knew that her son needed protecting from more than just magic. And as he spoke to her kindly and led her into her own living room, sitting beside her and talking to her for a while, she felt the weight she had been carrying fall from her shoulders, as she began to feel that, for this brief time, at least, he was safe.
Each time Henry visited Regina he would spend the time talking to her about Zelena and the progress Emma and the others were making, as well as what he was embarking on himself. Regina was aware that Henry was comparing the map of the Storybrooke woodland to the Enchanted Forest's woods. Having created this land herself she knew of the similarities, but was not certain that his mission would be a successful one. But she was grateful that such a quest would keep him safely out of the danger which the others had thrown themselves into, and which she wished she was able to assist in. But her ever-growing abdomen which was becoming increasingly difficult to conceal reminded her of the impossibility of that particular longing. Whilst she was creating potions and spells which were both assisting and protecting those around her, as well as the townspeople collectively, she could not help but feel guilty that Emma and the others were on the front line whilst she remained hidden in her home or office. This, combined with the guilt associated with Robin's near-death, almost consumed her completely. Although she only ever spent one to two hours with Henry before taking him home (which was the only time she saw Emma and the others, save for when they came to her doorstep), the time she spent with her son revitalised her, giving her the strength to continue, and acting as a reminder of precisely what it was that she was fighting for.
One particular evening at the beginning of the third week following Robin's attack, Regina was standing in her bedroom trying to force the zip on her pencil skirt to do up. Her eyes narrowed in confusion and the look of absolute concentration was spread across her face, as she held her breath and continued to try and coax the zip to the top of the skirt. After a few minutes with the zip itself barely budging, Regina exhaled in frustration and stood staring at her reflection in the mirror, her dark eyes adopting a solemn expression.
Regina's right hand drifted to the base of her abdomen, and she slowly turned aside to look at herself in the full length mirror. As she did so, she placed her left hand on top of her stomach, which now had a distinct curve from the base of her abdomen to the top. Although Regina's bump was small considering how far gone she was, it was highly noticeable if she wore anything skin-tight or fitted around the abdomen. Her silk blouses provided ample cover for her growing stomach, but she could feel the material clinging to her, and knew that they would not suffice for much longer. And as she looked at herself in the mirror, she found herself feeling almost shocked at how pronounced her pregnancy appeared to be beneath the skirt, which outlined her shape completely. Regina stared at her reflection for several moments, questioning whether she was seeing herself as being bigger than she truly was, or whether she was in denial. After a couple of minutes consideration, and with no answer, Regina pulled the zip back down and removed the skirt, placing it back in her wardrobe before choosing a pair of black leggings and an oversized white blouse. She selected one of her black tailored jackets, and stared at her reflection once more as she pulled it on. The blouse she was wearing perfectly concealed her rounded stomach, and as she turned to the side and watched as the material covered her completely and hid any sign of her pregnancy, Regina found herself feeling calmer and less panicked. But then, as it always did, her guilt returned to her. Regina placed her hand on her lower abdomen once more, pulling the material towards her tightly so that it displayed her stomach, and she smiled wistfully, before releasing the fabric once more and grabbing her purse.
As Regina drove to her office she considered the guilt she had been feeling over the past couple of months, a guilt which grew and evolved with each day and each incident. As she drove she tried to pick apart these feelings of guilt and their causes, and it was only as she arrived at her office that she allowed herself to fully focus on one of the central focuses of her guilt, which she had been struggling with tremendously: her baby. Regina stepped out of her car and walked towards the building, unlocking it and walking inside, as she considered this guilt. As she arrived at her office door she realised that the guilt was not at the fact that she concealed her pregnancy, her condition, but the fact that she concealed her child. Her baby was not something she regretted or wished to hide from others, quite the opposite. But she knew that the best way to ensure the child's safety was to hide its existence from Zelena which, under the circumstances, meant concealing it from everyone. Including Robin.
Regina swallowed at this thought, the knowledge that she was keeping Robin's child a secret from him. He had a right to know. But at the same time, her child had a right to survive, to live. To continue to grow and exist in safety, free from persecution. Robin's knowledge of her condition would, she had no doubt, increase his personal efforts to locate Zelena in order to keep her from harming their child. His sense of duty in relation to those he cared about was admirable, but in her lower moments Regina found herself wondering precisely how he would feel about their baby. She was sure he would love their child, but from her experience, she knew that love was not simple or one dimensional. Would he be upset with her? Would he want this child? Of course he would, she assured herself. He was the most loving and supportive individual she had ever met, he would love this child. As he loved her. The fact that Zelena was currently carrying Robin's baby, too, complicated the matter further. And yet, as she sat at her desk and worked through the evening, she found herself wishing he was beside her. She missed him terribly. Before his attack she had seen him frequently at meetings or around the town, but now, since her increased seclusion, she had barely glimpsed him for more than a moment, and it was torture. She knew from the information Henry had readily told her that he was fine, healthy, recovered, as she knew he would be, but found herself questioning as she had not seen or spoke to him herself.
It was these thoughts which tormented Regina as she worked, causing her mind to swim and her heart to race, as she continued making notes on the ancient text she was currently working on. For a moment her mind was calm and the sound of her own voice within her stilled, and she enjoyed a few moments of perfect harmony. As she turned another page in the book, an unfamiliarly strong sensation from within her abdomen caused her breath to catch in her throat and her racing heart to come to come to a halt. Regina was nervous at first, apprehensive. What she was feeling was very real, and for some reason, this terrified her. She remained perfectly still for several moments, frozen as she stared at a space somewhere at the front of her desk. As she did so, she could feel the sensations within her becoming stronger and more persistent, causing her eyes to fill with tears. After the movement within her abdomen continued for a few moments, Regina felt her mouth go dry as she blinked back the tears, before lowering her eyes to the book and then to her abdomen, which remained concealed beneath the soft blouse.
Regina's fingers fell from the tattered page of the old textbook, and she moved her hand to her stomach once more, lowering her eyes slightly as she tilted her head towards her stomach, and pressed her hand gently to her curved abdomen. Everything was quiet for a moment, still. But seconds later the strong, confident bursts she had felt previously returned, and it took Regina a moment to realise what they were. Her hand shook slightly on her abdomen as the knowledge came to her, her eyes alight yet tearful, her lips trembling. Her baby was kicking. Regina had felt the child moving before, but never kicking. And what she was experiencing now was, in her mind, something truly magical. Despite her stomach being small in relation to the current stage of her pregnancy, the feeling of the baby kicking so confidently and assuredly against her open palm reassured Regina considerably, and she sat quietly with her hand on her lower abdomen, which was concealed by her grand desk. Regina's trembling lips played into a small smile as her hand drifted across the bottom of her abdomen, following her baby's confident kicks as they moved. After a few moments more, Regina placed her left hand on top of her abdomen, stroking it tenderly as the kicking continued, with the baby's feet moving enthusiastically beneath her fingertips. She didn't know why, or precisely when it started, but Regina suddenly became aware of the fact that she was crying.
When she realised this she inhaled sharply, removing her left hand from the top of her stomach as she attempted to calm herself, whilst allowing her right hand to remain on the curve beginning at the base of her abdomen. As she calmed herself, Regina found herself feeling oddly relaxed and at ease, and almost perfectly in tune with her own body. For a moment she feels certain that she can feel her baby's heartbeat; each beat radiating throughout her body. She was so distracted by this, the tranquil sensations which have left her feeling calmer than she had done in recent months, that she failed to notice the sound of her office door slowly opening, until the bright artificial light from the corridor shone into the room, drawing her completely from her thoughts.
"Regina?" came the voice of Robin Hood, who now stood in the doorway. Upon hearing his voice calling her name Regina rose her eyes towards the door to face him, taking in the look of confusion mixed with concern which was in his eyes, as her own eyes widened and panic gripped her heart.
"Robin" she stated in a low, quiet voice, her right hand drifting off her abdomen and onto the edge of her seat, as she tucked herself as far under her desk as she was able to, in order to cover her stomach completely. Regina cleared her throat and inhaled deeply as she looked up towards him, the sound of his approaching footsteps announcing his closeness. "What are you doing here?" she asked in a gentle voice, her tone not concealing her confusion and concern.
"I came to see you" he replied simply, his voice low and gentle, as he looked at her with a slightly uncertain expression. "No one but Henry has seen you properly in several weeks and I wished to ensure that you're alright" he stated.
"I'm fine" she responded, her voice adopting its usual tone. She could feel Robin's eyes focused intently upon her face.
"You've been crying" he stated gently, taking one step around her desk and standing beside it.
"No, I-" Regina began, tilting her head up to face him as he stared down at her with his deep blue eyes. At this moment, lying to him was the only thing that pained her more than telling him the truth. "I'm fine, tired" she stated, her lips punctuating the statement with a small smile, before brushing some hair from her face.. "I didn't realise how late it was getting, I've been here for a while-"
"Regina, please" he stated gently, causing her eyes to drift immediately up to his. "You can talk to me" he added, in as kind and gentle a manner as he had before. He watched as Regina's eyes maintained his gaze for a moment before drifting away. "You know you can" he assured her kindly, as he took another step towards the side of her desk and eased himself onto it.
"Robin-" she began, her voice low and solemn.
"You've confided in me before, Regina" he reminded her gently, watching as her eyes drifted back to his once more. "I know it is not something you find easy to do, and I know that it frightens you" he continued, speaking in a low and gentle manner. "But you can talk to me, Regina. I can help you" he stated, watching as Regina swallowed and inhaled deeply. "Please, let me help you" he asked. He watched as Regina's eyes widened and shone and she inhaled deeply, before placing her hands on the sides of her chair and pushing it back.
"Stop" she stated, her voice low and almost whispered, as she pushed her chair back and stood from it, fighting a wave of dizziness as she stepped past him and headed towards the couch, before turning back to face him. "You need to be with your son" she began.
"Roland is safe, Regina. He is with Emma and her parents" Robin stated gently, easing himself off the desk and taking a few tentative steps towards her. He knew she was frightened and hated feeling vulnerable. But he also knew the affects that locking herself away from the others would have upon her. He would never forget the look on her face when she found him in her vault, it would haunt him for the rest of his life. Longer, even. But he also knew that there was something she was holding back, some fear or anxiety she had not confided. The frightened look in her eyes, the defensive positions, the solitude, it was all linked to her fears regarding Zelena, certainly. He could not bear for her to feel so alone.
"Every moment you are with me is a moment you are not with him. He needs you." Regina stated simply, interrupting Robin's thoughts,
"So do you" he returned instantly, continuing to walk towards her. "Regina, I understand why you're doing this, truly" he stated, stopping as he stood before her, their bodies inches apart. "But the children are safe, Regina. We are safe. And we will continue to do everything within our power to ensure that we remain so" he continued. "You do not deserve to be alone." Regina sighed, placing her hand across her forehead and then lowering it to her eyes.
"You almost died" Regina stated, lifting her head up to meet his gaze. As she did so she found herself feeling very warm and light-headed, and she inhaled deeply to placate these feelings. "She almost killed you."
"And yet here I stand" he returned, his eyes drifting across her face. "I am here because you saved me, you protected me" he stated. "And I fully intend on doing the same to you."
"Robin" she said weakly, inhaling deeply once more as she spoke. As soon as she had got up from her seat she had regretting it, recalling instantly how standing up quickly often made her feel dizzy.
"Regina?" Robin asked, noticing how pale and unsteady she had suddenly become. "Regina" he repeated following no response. As he took a step closer to her he saw her head tilt back slightly as she swayed to the side, and he placed his hands beneath her arms to steady herself. "Okay" he mumbled, wrapping one arm across her back and keeping his other hand beneath her arm as he guided her to the couch. Despite her weakness he could feel her tense beneath him, so he removed his hands from her as soon as she reached the couch, crouching before her as she sat. His eyes darted across her apprehensively as she placed her forehead in her hands before leaning her head back and facing him with tired eyes. "Are you alright?" he asked nervously, her paleness startling him.
"I'm fine" she mumbled. "Just tired" she continued, her voice gaining more confidence as she spoke.
"This is more than tiredness, Regina" Robin stated gently, causing Regina's eyes to drift warily towards him. "What's wrong?" he probed.
"Nothing" she replied, her eyes widening slightly as she shook her head in response. Regina's eyes focused on the look of disbelief in his eyes. "Nothing" she repeated confidently. "I… skipped dinner and have been working for hours, I'm tired, it's nothing" she reiterated, crossing her arms and placing them before her abdomen. "Honestly. I'm okay." Robin watched her for a moment, considering her words carefully as he noted the paleness of her features, the weariness of her tone, and the tiredness in her eyes. She was clearly exhausted and, knowing Regina, he doubted that she had been eating and resting adequately. She had probably been working constantly, permitting herself very little time to rest. And the magic that she had used to protect the children was powerful, he knew that. It had probably drained her, in some respects. He nodded in agreement, although he found part of himself remaining unconvinced.
"Are you quite certain that's all it is?" he asked gently, fearing that she was suffering some ill-effect of all the magic she had been using recently. Regina swallowed and stared at him with a confident expression, her eyes fixed on his.
"Yes" she replied, watching him for a moment. As their eyes locked she found herself staring deep into his eyes, as his comforting scent drifted up towards her, causing her to long to hold him. She could still feel the exact place where his hands had been upon her, and this gave her an incredible degree of comfort. But she could not allow herself to continue to feel like this. Not right now. "Robin you should go" she said gently, a confident air to her tone. His eyes remained on hers as he leaned closer to her, the scent of him overwhelming her, as his hand travelled to a spot on the couch beside her.
"Regina" he began, his face adopting the calm and relaxed expression that she recognised, "I am not afraid of you" he stated. Regina watched him for a moment, knowing he was referring to the dangers associated with being around her right now.
"Perhaps you should be" she responded, her voice low and breathless, as she continued to stare into his eyes. As she did so, she found herself reminded of how tired and lifeless they were when she found him on the floor of her vault, the memory causing her breath to hitch in her throat. "She could have killed you" Regina stated, her voice losing it's confident edge. "I could have lost you" she added, closing her eyes as her lips quivered. She inhaled deeply and brushed the tears from her cheeks, facing him once more with as confident an expression as she was able of providing.
"Sweetheart" he soothed, moving his hand from the couch beside her to her left forearm, which he stroked gently. "You will never lose me" he assured her, leaning so close to her that she could feel his breath on her cheek. At that moment Regina was incapable of forming words, and the simple yet loving gesture he was providing her overwhelmed her ability to rationalise and think completely. As their eyes locked Regina found herself leaning instinctively towards him, her heart racing as he too leaned in, and their lips met.
Robin and Regina kissed tentatively at first, their lips gently grazing each other as if to seek permission to continue. Regina returned his tentative kisses with gentle yet confident ones, tilting her head to the side as the kiss deepened. She heard his jacket rustle as he leaned closer to her, planting one hand on the couch beside her and the other on her cheek, as he guided her deeper into the kiss. Regina moaned in response, leaning forward slightly and running her hand through his dark hair, guiding his head towards her, as the kiss grew more passionate. As they continued to kiss, Regina felt Robin's hand drift from her cheek down her neck and towards her shoulder, before gliding sensually down her back and gently encouraging her to move closer to him. She complied, edging herself forward as he leaned slightly over her, her back arching as she moaned into the ever-deepening kiss. She could feel a tear travel down her cheek as her breathing increased and her heart raced with anticipation, as Robin's hand drifted lower down her back, before pausing, and travelling slowly to her side, tugging the material of her blouse tightly to her abdomen, which his hand was quickly approaching. Regina's eyes snapped open and she broke the kiss, leaning back so suddenly that Robin was afraid he had upset her. He removed his hands from her and leaned back, looking up at her with a slightly dazed expression.
"Forgive me, I-"
"No, no, it's me, I-" she began, her mind racing as she mentally checked herself for what she had just done, and how close she had just come to unwittingly revealing her condition. "I didn't want to stop" she stated simply. "But Robin, we can't do this" she continued. "Not now" she added, her voice adopting its trademark confidence. Robin nodded towards her reassuringly.
"I understand" he stated, his voice low and kind, but slightly breathless. He remained kneeling before her for several moments, his eyes drifting across her face. "You're quite sure that you're alright?" he asked once more, noting the flushed appearance of her cheeks, but still finding something about her concerning him.
"Of course" she stated, smiling lightly as she spoke. Robin nodded in response.
"Alright" he stated gently, before rising into a standing position, which she immediately followed. "But if there comes a time that you are not alright" he began gently, meeting her gaze confidently with her own. "Please, come to me. Any time, anywhere" he added, his tone soft and gentle. "Let me help you." Regina exhaled slightly and nodded.
"Of course" she stated, her tone gentle but almost dismissive. Robin continued to watch her for a moment as her eyes drifted back up towards him. "Goodnight" she said kindly. He nodded in response.
"You will get some rest tonight, won't you?" he asked, his deep eyes meeting hers.
"Absolutely" she assured him, a small smile forming on her lips as she spoke. He nodded once more, before smiling at her pleasantly, and walking from the room. Regina remained still and listened to the sound of his footsteps disappearing, before easing herself back onto the couch and clasping her hands in her lap, causing the material of her blouse to cling to her curved abdomen. This was going to be more difficult than she thought.
Robin walked quickly from Regina's office and headed across town to the library, where he knew Blue and Belle would still be working. The doors opened will a dull creak and he walked directly towards Blue, who turned towards him expectantly, noting immediately his look of concern.
"Robin" she began, closing the book she was holding and placing it on the table. "What is it? What's wrong?" she asked. Robin met her gaze and stopped before her, as he tried to place his thoughts into words.
"It's Regina" he stated simply, watching as Blue's eyes grew slightly and she nodded. "I think something's wrong."